Chamber:
	Dail Eireann
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	6 June 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the Dail following the premature dissolution of this body on 15 May 1997. Dail elections had previously been held in November 1992.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Subsequent to the previous (November 1992) Dail elections, Prime Minister Albert Reynolds resigned as both leader of the Government and his party (Fianna Fail) in November 1994 and, the following month, a new three-party ruling "Rainbow Coalition" comprising Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Democratic Left was formed, headed by Prime Minister John Bruton. Labour, led by Mr. Dick Spring, had in effect caused this change by withdrawing from the former two-party governing alliance and switching allegiances. On 15 May 1997, Mr. Bruton (Fine Gael), riding the crest of an impressive economic record but trailing his opponents in opinion polls, called the premature elections for 6 June; the Dail was then dissolved and the campaign began. During the next three weeks, the main issues debated concerned taxes, crime, drugs, abortion, employment and the question of Northern Ireland. The outgoing Prime Minister urged support for his alliance on grounds of stability and policies, pointing to its performance while in power. Allied with the Progressive Democrats in a centre-right coalition, Mr. Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fail, countered by promising to cut taxes, reduce crime and bolster the peace process in the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland. On 4 June, a televised debate took place between the two above-mentioned leaders. On polling day, the opposition's message apparently scored with the electors as it captured a total of 81 seats (77 by Fianna Fail, 4 by the Progressive Democrats) to 75 for the centre-left Rainbow Coalition. Although three seats short of an absolute majority, the victors looked to achieve this through the backing of some of the seven successful independents. Also triumphant was one candidate of Sinn Fein - the first seat the party had captured since the 1920s. On 26 June, Mr. Ahern was elected Prime Minister by the Dail. He heads a 16-member coalition Cabinet. Ms. Mary Harney, leader of the Progressive Democrats, is Deputy Premier, succeeding Mr. Spring.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (6 June 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	2,741,262
Voters	1,806,932 (65.9%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	17,947
Valid votes	1,788,985

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	First preference votes	%
Fianna Fail	703,682	39.33
Fine Gael	499,936	27.95
Labour Party	186,044	10.40
Progressive Democrats	83,765	4.68
Democratic Left	44,901	2.51
Green Alliance	49,323	2.76
Sinn Fein	45,614	2.55
Workers' Party	7,808	0,44
Others and Independents	167,912	9.39

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Fianna Fail	77	+9
Fine Gael	54	+11
Labour Party	17	-14
Progressive Democrats	4	-6
Democratic Left	4	=
Green Alliance	2	+1
Sinn Fein	1	+1
Workers' Party	0	=
Others and Independents	7	n.a.

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	146
Women:	20
Percent of women:	12.05